Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,837, Eli Forbes, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Forbes Eli
S 15837
Carded.
CONTENTS

Connecticut 1772
Eli Forbes.
of East Haddam in the State of Connecticut who was a Private in the Co. commanded by Captain Warner of the Regt. commanded by ( ) in the Conn. t line for 14 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of Connecticut at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of Sept r 1833. and sent to the Rev. O. C. New Haven Co.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept r 1833 - 116.63 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar ch 23.35
$139.98
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by M. Palmer Clerk Book 6 Vol. three Page 14

2476
P.O.
adm d
14 mo. per
$46.66
14 mo. per
adm d
A. m. d

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
State of Connecticut, } ss. County of New-Haven, }
On this 7 th day of August 1832 personally appeared, in open Court, before the County Court of New-Haven County now sitting, Eliz Forbes — a resident of East Haven in the County of New-Haven, and State of Connecticut, aged 72 years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:—That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:—
I enlisted in the State service in the revolutionary war in the month of March or April 1782 under the command of Lieut s Samuel Bird of New Haven for one year and stationed to keep guard at the Fort on the east side of New Haven harbor and continued the whole time of one year and was discharged in 1783 — Enos Hemenway, Jacob Mallory and others now living in this Town belonged in said company —
In the month of September 1776 I was drafted from the Militia Company under the command of Capt t Robert Brown of New Haven went to New York and Brooklyn was there when we retreated from Long Island under Gen l . Washington and the enemy took possession of New York. I retreated out of New York continued in service two months when I was discharged — I know of no one living that was with me
I was born in East Haven in the year 1759 Nov. 12th. I do not know that my age is on any public record
I lived in New Haven when I was drafted — and in East Haven when I enlisted — I never received any written discharge — I have lived in East Haven ever since the revolution war where I now reside —

we Enos Hemingway and Jacob Mallory of East Haven in New Haven County hereby certify that we were in the State Service under the command of Lieut. Samuel Bird at the Fort on the East side of New Haven Harbour from March 1782 untill we were discharged in 1783 and that Eli Searles of East Haven was with us in service the whole time and have no doubt that the facts stated by him in the foregoing declaration are true.
Enos Hemingway Jacob Mallory
Sworn to subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Attest J. B. Beach (Clerk)

The Declaration
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State, except that of the State of
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest J. Beach Clark E. L. Forbes
We, Stephen Dadd a Clergyman, residing in East Haven and Bela Farnham residing in the same town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Eli Forbes who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration ; that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Attest J. Beach Clark
Stephen Dadd Bela Farnham
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Stephen Dadd who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in East Haven and that Bela Farnham who has also signed the same, is a resident in East Haven and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
By order of Court Attest J. Beach Clark I, J. Beach Clark Clerk of the County Court of New Haven County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Eli Forbes for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office,
this 7 th day of August 1832
Attest J. Beach Clark

I Eli Forbes of the Town of East Haven and County of New Haven State of Connecticut Aged 72 years do make the following Declaration in addition and explanation of the one heretofore made in order to obtain a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. — That on or about the first day of September 1776 I was drafted in the militia Company under the Command of Capt s Robert Brown of New Haven — went to New York by Water landed in New York and was quartered with the Company in Queen Street in said City continued there several days, was then ordered over to Brooklyn and Stationed on Brooklyn height, continued there on duty three or four days until about the middle of September was ordered in the night to retreat into New York and Stationed again in said Queen Street — the enemies Shiping coming up and firing on the City we retreated toward Kings Bridge making several haltings — encamped at Kings Bridge, and at Harlem and on the height Back of New York often changing Stations and continued in said Company under the Command of Capt s Robert Brown until the first of November following — when I was discharged and returned by Land — I received no written discharge — have no documentary evidence and know of no one now living that belonged in said Company.
In the latter part of March 1782 I enlisted as a private in the State Service in the war of the revolution under the Command of Capt s John Warner of New Haven for the term of one year and was Stationed at the Fort on the east side

of New Haven harbour under Lieut. Samuel Bird and continued at said Station in said Service in keeping guard at the Fort and on the Shores Adjoining - I once received a severe wound in my face by a musket ball - not from the enemy - but from a party of men from the opposite Shore while I with others were rowing up the harbour in a Boat in the evening - they having mistaking us for an enemy - And in the early part of April 1789 1789 the Year having expired that I enlisted for and there being a number present whose time of service had expired all such were paraded under the command of said Lieut. - Bird marched up & near the center of said East Haven a distance of About two miles paraded on the public ground and received a verbal Discharge and fired a Salute on the occasion.
As this Company was raised by order of this State for the purpose of Guarding the Shore in this Town and in New Haven and the adjoining Town it was attached to no regiment. And no higher grade of Officers were known than the Captain.
I know of no documentary evidence to prove my service And must rely on the Testimony of Enos Hemingway and Jacob Mallory now living in this Town who belonged in said Company and served the whole time with me and were discharged at the same time that I was -
I entered the Service by being Drafted and by enlistment I received no written discharge -
I was born in East Haven Nov. 10: 1759 do not know that my age is on any public record -
I lived in New Haven when I was Drafted and in East Haven when I enlisted where I have ever since continued to live.
I am well acquainted with Elisha Andrews - Elijah Bradley Samuel Forbes and others in East Haven who can testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a Soldier of the revolution.
I cannot by reason of age and infirmities and the length of time recollect the exact day that I entered the service or was discharged - but according to my best recollection I served two months that is from the first of Sept. to the first of Nov. 1776 And one whole year from the first of April 1782 to the first of April 1789 - And for such Service I claim a pension.
E. Forbes
Sworn to the foregoing in Court this 19 th day of
March A.D. 1853 attest J. W. Beach Clerk

I Samuel Forbes of the Town of East Haven in New Haven County State of Connecticut aged 68 years do depose and say that I am well knowing that Eli Forbes named in the foregoing Declaration was in the 1776 Drafted in the Militia Company in New Haven and went to New York at the time New York was taken by the enemy in the Revolutionary war. And that he was in service according to my best recollection about two months - the exact time he was drafted or discharged I cannot describe - And I am further well knowing that the said Eli Forbes did in the forepart of the year 1782
Enlist as a private in the State Service to be stationed at the Fort on the east side of New Haven harbor - for the term of one year and according to my belief did continue in service during the whole time. I am knowing that during said time of service the said Eli Forbes received a wound in his face from a musket shot and was brought home to his father a distance of about two miles from the Fort where he remained several days until he was so far recovered as to return on duty.
Samuel Forbes
Sworn to & subscribed in court this 19 th day of March 1853
Attest J. W. Beach Clerk

15837 INVALID.
em
File No. 15837
Eli Forbes
Pre Civil War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 131
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Connecticut County of New Haven ss.
Be it remembered that at a County Court held at New Haven in & for New Haven County on the 2 nd Tuesday of March A.D. 1833 now in session this 19 th day of March 1833
The said Court in addition to their certificate to the Pension papers of Eli Forbes held annexed hereby further certifies that the several deponents or witnesses whose affidavits or depositions were taken before said Court which are thereto & hereto annexed, to wit Samuel Forbes Enos Hemenway & Jacob Mallory are respectively persons of credibility & declare that in our opinion their statements are entitled to full faith and credit.
By order of Court Attest M c Beach Clerk
I M c Beach Clerk of the County Court of New Haven do hereby certify that the foregoing and annexed contain the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Eli Forbes for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 19 th day of March 1833
M c Beach Clerk

Eli Forbes
adm
Beach. John Beach Col New Haven Ct.
Page 78.
A. M. d.
Properly attached to the certificate. Issued under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being im- certified must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must written on the same sheet of paper which contains the signature or other paper authenticated the In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
GREEN LAW. Types of, and instructions for.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Eli Forbes which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
no VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
It does not appear that the best evidence is produced  XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
No detail of service is given
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
3, 4 & 5
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Emm. G. G. G.
6.
Rev.
Dear Lewis, best
Sunday of War Washington

Pension papers
Apr 12
60
Retd.
Genl. Lewis Cass Secretary of War Washington